On February 17, 2024, world number one Iga Swiatek claimed the Qatar Open title for the third year in a row with a straight-set victory over Elena Rybakina. Poland’s Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam champion and winner of the US Open in 2022, trailed by a double break in the first set but regrouped to beat Kazakhstan’s Rybakina 7-6 (10-8) 6-2 in Doha.
This victory marks Swiatek’s first WTA title of the year and her 18th overall. Notably, she is the first player to win a WTA singles title three times in a row since American Serena Williams claimed the Miami Open from 2013 to 2015.
During the match, Swiatek trailed Rybakina 4-1 in the first set but found her rhythm, ultimately closing out the tie-break after 90 minutes. Rybakina had to take a medical timeout after hitting her leg with her racquet while serving in the first set, and she quickly went down a break in the second.
Both Swiatek and Rybakina are scheduled to play in the Dubai Tennis Championship, which begins on Friday.
In other tennis news, Australia’s Alex de Minaur marked his 25th birthday by beating Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 6-3 to reach the Rotterdam Open final. Additionally, Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner will face de Minaur on Sunday after beating Tallon Griekspoor 6-2 6-4.
Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz missed out on a first final of the season as he lost 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 to Chile’s Nicolas Jarry in the semi-finals of the Argentina Open.
Finally, at the Delray Beach Open in Florida, Julian Cash will take on fellow Briton Neal Skupski in Sunday’s men’s doubles final.